KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 ― The PAS Ulama Council today said the controversy over a Selangor leader dressing as the Chinese god of prosperity was a misunderstanding, but cautioned its members to be mindful when joining non-Muslim celebrations.
In a statement on the party's mouthpiece, Harakahdaily, the council's deputy president Datuk Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh also expressed disappointment in the furore raised over Paya Jaras assemblyman Mohd Khairuddin Othman’s donning of the costume.
“However the PAS Ulama Council feels that it was not done with the intention to break religious boundaries, what more ridicule Islamic laws.
“Instead, what happened was because of a mere misunderstanding stemming from failure to analyse beliefs resembling the religious practices of others,” he said.
Nik Muhammad then advised PAS members to be cautious in their actions involving religious matters, to avoid creating misunderstanding and element of slander to other faiths.
“Hopefully this mistake does not repeat and we hope all is forgiven by Allah,” he said.
Mohd Khairuddin, who is also Selangor PAS secretary, previously admitted to dressing as the Chinese God of Prosperity for Chinese New Year celebration in Selangor, after photos of him in the outfit was distributed online yesterday.
According to a report in Utusan Malaysia today, he said that he wore the costume in the spirit of the celebration deemed as cultural, and was not religious in nature.
He however, reportedly sought forgiveness from Allah and all those who took offence with him over the costume.
